Well, I don't want to sound cynical but.....it's the best decision and I'm very happy for Del Toro and even The Hobbit. Del Toro's Hobbit would be awesome. We all know that. But spendng six (or more) years in a project that depends on a studio that is going down...well, that requires a bit more than patient. And, as an artist, having my "next" project for 2013 or 2014....Well....Del Toro let the fans a screenplay in collaboration with Jackson and Walsh and something of a vision. But it's a very, very promising filmmaker who was top of his game back at 2008: too sad for us waiting THAT MUCH for another GDT because he can truly make a coherent and big body of work with Shelley and Simmons materials. Great news for Del Toro fans.

As for The Hobbit.....Peter Jackson is the man. Now is his turn. It's his LoTR. It's his Tolkien New Movie Canon. And we've see him jump beyond the drama (The Lovely Bones) and the comedy (his early years) so a Hobbit adventure based on a more Frighteners meets LoTR tone would be easy for him. It's the end of his incredible fan-hearted journey. The other name is Alfonso Cuarón: has helm the best HP movie to date and seems comfortable working with big projects and is friends with Del Toro. Has a great style and seems a man that slightly adapts to the project.

The financial troubles of MGM have caused all this: Del Toro wanted to be shooting a year ago and not leaving. But Del Toro's work has now options of continuing as a very exciting and personal journey through his artistic and literary influences and The Hobbit can be just reassigned or helmed by Jackson, the man who bring back Tolkien and who defined the definitive movie look of the Middle Earth.